18th. Century diplomacy, campaigns, battles, intrigues, story-telling and more using historical military miniatures, model terrain and the imagination.

Seven Years' War French Off-White Coat

1757 Near White Coat; Justaucorps. Compare to white stockings, shirt and white strap. There is no grey/gray anywhere. This is how the manual of arms says French officers were to carry their muskets. Pole arms were abandoned by 1758.

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Monday, August 7, 2017

Date: 5-6 August, 1757 (2017)
Location: Southeast India, The Carnatic, Inland From The Port of Madras
Situation: The Battle
Rules: Batailles de l'Ancien Regime 1740-1763 known as BAR.
See oldregimerules.com for information about the rules.

Cast

Guru
Lieutenant General l'Duc de Bussy

Nawab Basmati

Colonel Armand l'Honneur

BEFORE THE BATTLE

Nawab Basmati, have you baited the French General?

I have my Guru.

We saw how proudly he processed his army before us and now....

He has formed two battle lines on our left.
These will surely advance to engage the English any moment.

And?

As our plan prescribes, we will advance slowly so our allies have the honor to cast themselves first upon the English. This way we will better know if we should engage the foe --- or not.

Good. --- Very good.

We will rid our world of both the Engleesch and French.

l'BATAILLE DE MADRAS, INDE

What have you to say?

Monsieur l'General, we beg to report....

The enemy is advancing toward us. --- Only us.

Andre, gallop to Basmati. Give him my compliments and my desire that his army should advance at once.

Victor, ride along the first line telling the Colonels to advance at ten of the clock. Have the battery give fire when practicable.

Oui Monsieur. Votre serviteurs.

FAR LEFT FLANK

Captain! Enemy hill tribe horsemen are galloping unhesitatingly in our direction! Even now they are clashing with our forward native screen --- pushing them back.

Return to your squadrons at once. Have them....

Draw sabers and charge!

I can't believe what has happened.

My dragoons have been annihilated.

Hold them chasseurs!

Captain! The enemy is going for the battery.

Why doesn't Albanie fire! What is happening?

The crew was all cut down. The hill tribesmen were ecstatic.

But the foe overextended themselves in their jubilant triumphs. Just as they were about to take stock of their success, our own hill tribesmen reengaged and sent them reeling backwards. Perhaps there was a blood feud to resolve or simply the desire to have a good sword fight to redress the earlier humiliation.

Whatever it was, Battalion de Fischer restored the far left flank. The tide of enemy horsemen ebbed and thankfully returned from whence it had come. Still, it had been quite a shock.

THE CENTER

Batallion Albanie guarding the left of the Army's center.

Two battalions de Bussy are seen in the distance advancing toward the foe.

Late in the morning Basmati sent his green sashed musket men forward because....

The enemy beckoned, hurled insults and postured before them.

The range between them shortened.

Basmati ordered reserves forward; swordsmen identified by their green sashes, his Household Guard musketeers clad in white and war elephants.

The critical moment of the battle had arrived.

Two battalions of French infantry came up on their left.

2 de Bussy in the upper left and Albanie in the lower right.

2 de Bussy would eventually rout the enemy archers.

However, Albanie retired because the French Left Flank by now was solely protected by Fischer's Battalion falling back under new pressure. Plus new enemy forces were en-route to turn Albanie's flank. Nothing could be done about it. Nothing.

THE RIGHT FLANK

Events just described took place to the upper left of next photos.

Here on the Right Flank Colonel Armand l'Honneur had his own concerns; guarding the army's line of communication and if necessary, retreat.

Move your grey sashed musket men forward of the abandoned village.

I will form behind you with my Sepoys.

After the abandoned village was to my immediate left, a horde of the enemy appeared.

En avant mes amis! (Advance my friends)

To my astonishment the enemy hillmen were replaced by a British regular battalion. We pressed the enemy because Basmati's forces had finally come forward. (The Green Sashes mentioned earlier are in the upper left of the photo.)

But....

Minutes later I noticed my French comrades and Basmati's forces begin to retire from the distant main battlefield. Only afterwards did I learn that our Left Flank was in grave jeopardy and therefore, the battle had been lost. My orders required protecting our way out. So I too ordered a withdrawal.

THE RETREAT

This way home Captain?

Oui Monsieur.

Survivors retreat along their line of communication back to Arcot.

Armand, I am delighted to see you again. No injuries?

None Monsieur l'General. I am unscathed thank God.

You have my unlimited thanks for preserving our way home.

What of the Nawab's men?

They retreated by a different route in some haste.

So we are on our own.

********************************************************************

CLOSING REMARKS(1) Were all of the miniatures fielded germane to Seven Years' War India? No. They did not have to be. Only three were; British and French Sepoy battalions and the archers. The rest were Pathans and Indians we use on the Northwest Frontier. Regulars were actual European units; Fischer's Battalion for example. Two battalions of Grenadiers de France portrayed de Bussy's own men. Jim P., Der Alte Fritz, and I supplied units for the game.(2) One remark at the game was this is so very different because of the multitude of native units present. Well, they should be numerous but again, don't have to be. (3) Photos do not reveal that some Pathans have 1890s rifles. No matter. We didn't notice or care. We use what we have. Close is good enough.(4) Check out Indus Miniatures for all kinds of Indians suitable for the Seven Years' War. The company has offered a sizeable discount in October for several years.(5) Six players. Thirteen turns.(6) This is the 10th Anniversary of the publication of BAR. Hurrah!!! I have some copies left.(7) Thank you sincerely for looking in. We gratefully welcome your thoughts below at the word Comments, if you please.

Hurry my children. In May we hurled the enemy away from Arcot. It was a great sign. Now Madras, their base, like ripe fruit awaits us. We only need to pluck it!

I only know this Monsieur l'Duc. We were very lucky at Arcot. It was hardly a sign.

Oui Armand. We will fight because it is our duty. However, the British with their backs to the sea will fight with the ferocity of the great Bengal Tiger. This is why I am leaving you here.

Before de Bussy left for the great procession, he told me to hold this ground. It guards our line of communication if we retreat. But, without regular troupes de terre.... No, I must not think about that.

It is a grand sight to behold Monsieur l'General.

The procession of l'Armee de Bussy surely encourages....

Our allies and discourages the confounded enemy.

The Advance Guard.

At that large tree we shall commence deployment to our right.

Halt the march there while I ride back down the column.

Colonel Albanie. --- Soon we will deploy to fight the foe.

But there is our real enemy.

The Nawab and his superstitious cohorts.

CLOSING REMARKS

(1) Well well.... Some French officers are troubled.

(2) The Battle of Madras is next. Will we see you there?

(3) Your thoughts are important to readers of this blog and also me. It's kind of like box office reports after a motion picture is released. If you please, click on the word Comments below and leave your remarks. Thank you in advance.

Thursday, August 3, 2017

Terra-forming the tabletop finished August 3, 2017. Curiously two battlefields were built; one on top of the other. --- What's that Bill?

There are two games here this month. On the 26th instant we'll be flying the 4th BIG Battle of Britain Game. Preceding it on the 5th is the Seven Years' War Battle of Madras, India. I wanted to get a head start on the BOB. Here's what I did.

(1) This is south-eastern Britain around Dover. Structures can't be placed now.

(2) The brownish-green table covering is land north of the beaches.

(3) Note how that covering is slightly angled and is not at the table edge.

(4) Reason: So the coast is not exactly parallel to the right table edge.

(5) Portions of the cloth hang vertically off the left side of the table. It's okay.

(6) The vibrant green cloth piled idly to the left will bury near portions of the table.

(b) I did not think of angling the terrain cloth until yesterday. I like the possibilities.

(c) Scenario: The Nawab of Basmati fresh from his victory in May at Arcot decided to attack the nearby British base at Madras. M. de Bussy, his French ally, is not pleased but we gamers need a jolly reason to move units and throw dice, don't we? --- Yes we do.

No armoured units.
No Household or Guards
No Grenadier Battalions
No units that have won elite status.
Imagineering Pulp Characteristics?In the latter "Pulp" characteristics are mentioned. By this I mean special abilities "beyond the powers of mortal men" as the saying goes on the Superman TV series from the late 1950s and early 1960s.
De Winter might be good at suddenly vanishing if in a pickle. (Or minions suddenly appear to stop her demise or capture.)
Lady Pettygree has a terrific horse (a big Suren stallion with a mean look) and has "That Old Woman" who continually warns her of trouble - always ignored.
Cols. Enigma and Bauer should have special characteristics.
Pay points for each personality and for each characteristic too.
What?

LIST OF BATTLES AFTER #50

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#51 April 24, 2010 Fontenoy #3 (GALLIA)Bill held Fontenoy and commanded the French Cavalry Reserve. Fun charge and deep penetration by the Royals, French that is. Randy pressed the Britannia left flank hard. Brent and Rolf held the French left.
--------------------
#52 June 22, 2010 (GALLIA/FRANKZONIA)Tannesberg Mountain Pass/Defile Proxy Battle for Arthur John as Rebel CinC. Chuck as Frankzonian/Gallian CinC
--------------------
#53 August 28, 2010 (DRAW)
1762. Russia allies with Prussia. A weak Prussian Korps holds a hilly area waiting for a Russian Korps to arrive. Things are advantageous for the Austrians and French until they d0.
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#54 October 30, 2010 (ALLIANCE WON)A two-hour warm-up game adapting Charles Grant, Jr. Table Top Teaser from Battlegames #23.
French versus Russians, French, Hanoverians and British. Fun. Cavalry only; 100 per side approx.
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#55 October 30, 2010 (GALLIA)
Korbach. Gallia won all along the line pushing Britannian, Hanoverian and Prussian units nearly off the Main Table.--------------------
#56 December 4, 2010 (GERMANIA)
Light game at Randy and Sheryl's in Dekalb, IL. Hesse-Seewald successfully carried off supplies and Lady de Winter captured some VIPs though not Lady Diana Pettygree.
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#57 December 27, 2010 (GERMANIA)
At Chez Lake Forest at Jim's.
Austrians: Jim and Bill.
Prussians: Randy and Keith.
Prussian dawn raid ona sleepy Austrian post. Austrians taken almost totally unawares and soundly beaten.
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#58 January 29, 2011 (GERMANIA)
Annual Winter Terrain Game
The Great Redoubt 1761. Adapted from the French attack on the Raevsky Redoubt at Borodino in 1812.
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#59 May 7, 2011 (Prussians Win and French Win)Battle of Colburgstadt. Russian naval descent failed to penetrate Prussian works near the port and retired to their ships. A half day's march away the Battle of Colburg Feld was also fought. A Prussian relief column was stopped in its attempt to relieve the city.
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#60 July 16, 2011 (Britannia)British forces cross the T of three French columns of march. The main French column in the center was thrown back while the northern column was about to be though the southern column appeared to be holding itsw own.
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#61
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THAT WOMAN: Mysterious, one-eyed, elderly and peasant dressed offering advice to Pettygree. She appears at propitious moments and vanishes in an instant.

Admiral Suthren's Coxswain

~~

GALLIAN SHIPS

Impenetrable (74)

l'Vengeance (40) VERY FAST!!!

Rhapsodie (36) sunk in Tradgardstadt Harbor at anchor

Alerte (20)Dispatch vessel

Rascalle (12) Packet Ship

A Galley (?) on the Seine between Le Havre and Versailles)

~~

GERMANIA

Colonel von Bungle (IR#1 von Bungle)

General Major von Schwerpunkt

Prinz Wilhelm von Pröc (Protzdam Guard Grenadiers)

~~

BRITANNIA

~~

TRADGARDLAND

Duke Karl Frederick

Duchess Liv

Alisona (Daughter of Duke Karl Frederick and Duches Liv)

Diplomat von Bergmann

Diplomat Captain Anders (Posted At Ny Tradgardland)

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Unused Names:

l'Comte de Courage

Deception

Cursarius (Runner/Raider)

Flabergast

Intrigue

Punctillious

Inuendo

Chaos

von Blast

von Bluster

von Blunder

von Brittle

-------------

l'Capitaine Briege: Captain of Rhapsodie 36, burned in Tradgardstadt Harbor, Tradgardland. He was cashiered for losing his ship, thrown in the Bastille back in Gallia and afterwards secretly offered an opportunity to restore his honor. The Gallian Foreign Ministry invited him to stay in the Bastille or serve as a supernumerary in the de Saxe Lanciers. The latter is commanded by Capitaine Gardier (Officer in charge of Pettygree's cavalry escort - the de Saxe Lancers/Lanciers.) The Foreign Ministry and Monsieur Briege (lost his naval captaincy) are aware of snippets of information about a black carriage sighted in Germania and near the burning of Rhapsodie in Tradgardland associated with mysterious occurrences of an anti-Gallian nature. Briege accepted the offer to serve with the de Saxe Lanciers whose secondary mission is to find the black carriage and....Briege is eager to serve that cause for obvious reasons. Lt. Col, Enigma knows all the above and is part of the mission too. Maybe he is in charge of it. Who knows? He is often riding with Diana Pettygree when she is in Germania.

Battle of Gabrus Bay: 7 June 1758/2008

Report from Brent O.

It was predawn on June 7, and the sky was just starting to lighten. Aboard the troop transports the enlisted men were being herded by junior officers and NCO’s through the mess for a cold breakfast, and then by companies to the ships side to be given a gin ration, after which it was over the sides to the landing barges. The fortress of Louisbourg was visible by the thin light, and whitecaps in Gabrus Bay glistened against the backdrop of the dark forest. The men of the provincial New Jersey Blues, a battalion of colonial rangers, the Highland battalion, and the converged Grenadier companies were sluggish with sleep and apprehensive about the upcoming action.

In the company of General Wolfe in the main transport’s cabin, the ranking officers were in a buoyant mood. Excited about the prospects of the upcoming day of combat, the chance at fame and advancement, they tried to act calm as they enjoyed their warm breakfast. Oh, the glorious day!

On shore, the men of the regimets of Bearn and La Reine rested behind their log and earth breastworks, peering at the outline of the Bristish fleet outside of Gabrus Bay. The artillery officers made sure that the shot and powder were ready to hand, anticipating plenty of targets if the British tried a landing on the beach.

On the heights outside of the city, the converged battalion of Troops de la Marine waited. They had the best view of all the men awaiting battle. In the woods below, the Huron allies sat in groups of friends and relatives, telling stories of their deeds of valor and the bravery of their ancestors.

Finally, on the far side of the Bay a company of the Berry regiment manned the blockhouse.

All in all, it was a very confident group of French and their allies, dug in and fortified, awaiting the British aggressors.

As the first wave of barges entered the bay, the four French four-pounders opened up. Several incoming landing barges were hit by round shot. All of these suffered damage, while three sank. One company of the Jersey Blues had many men drown as the landing barge they were on sank forty yards off shore in the turbulent water! But the British came on, and the men off-loaded onto the beach and formed up.

On the British right, and nearest the road to the Fortress of Louisbourg, the Jersey Blues assembled and advanced on the woods and the road to Louisbourg. They encountered fire from a battery in the woods to their front, and from a battery on the left flank of a redoubt to the front of the Bay.

On the British left the converged Grenadiers advanced in open order by company on the redoubts to the front of the Bay. They were under fire from the two batteries sheltered in these redoubts. As the Grenadiers got close to the redoubts, the men of the La Reine regiment and two companies of the Berry regiment rose up behind their redoubts and opened fire. The Grenadiers were staggered, but kept coming.

The New Jersey Blues took fire from the Huron at the woods edge, but followed their orders and advanced to a fire fight at point blank range. They bravely accepted fire down their flank from the four-pounder at the redoubts edge, and then stood under more flanking fire from two companies of the Berry regiment who stood up at the ramparts edge and opened fire.

More landing barges were coming in, bringing in more Grenadiers, the Highlander battalion, and the large Ranger battalion. But the first wave of Grenadiers had had enough. They had bravely advanced on the redoubts to point blank range, only to find themselves outnumbered two- or three- to one by the fortified regiments of La Reine and Berry, besides taking fire from two four-pounders at close canister range. The converged Grenadiers broke and ran to the boats at the beach.

The New Jersey Blues had also had enough. Theirs was a close-run fire fight, for the Huron were staggered by the exchange as well. Both forces were well blooded, and seemed visibly waivering. But the Huron stayed in the fray at the woods edge, whilst the Jersey Blues ran back to the beach – first in ones and twos, but what started a trickle rapidly became a flood.

The Highland battalion had formed up on the beach, and advanced in excellent order on the redoubt held by the Berry regiment. The sides exchanged fire at close range, and many men on both sides fell from the fire. But the men of Berry held.

On the right of the British line the provincial Ranger battalion advanced on the high hill, now visibly occupied by the Troops de la Marine, who poured a vigorous fire onto the beach. The Rangers and the de la Marines exchanged a heated fire, but since the Rangers were in dispersed order and the Marines were partially concealed in the woods, small casualties resulted from the large smoke and din.

As these firefights went on, the senior British officers did all they could to rally the broken first wave of the Grenadiers and Jersey Blues; alternately cursing, cajoling, promising reward and then punishment. But the men refused to obey orders to form ranks, instead milling about in a mob, running from one place to another.

Wolfe had seen enough. The recall was sounded, and the entire detachment of barges headed empty back to shore to pick up the remnants of the battalions that had landed so bravely only hours before.

The French stayed in their positions and jeered the British, content to have held off the landing force, and naively trusting the British would now go home. And the Huron followed their time honored practice of collecting the prizes of victory, seizing weapons and clothing to take back to their villages, and captives to exchange for gifts and weapons with the French.

Comments from a player: This was a very fun scenario. The percentage of each French unit that actually participated was randomly determined, with a possible range of army strength from roughly 6o some men to around 150. This represented differing decisions by the Governor of Louisbourg. Historically, the Governor didn’t defend against the landings aggressively, but kept his strength in the fortified town. However, for this game, the French aggressively defended against the landings.

The British had to make their plan not knowing whether there would be a token or fierce resistance, and had to proceed with their plan for many game turns before the strength of the French forces became evident - here were many French in excellent positions. The British players did this wonderfully, and held to their plan until the units they commanded broke and would not rally.

It was a very different game than most mid-eighteenth century ones. The French artillery opened effective fire on landing barges on turn one! This alone was worth attending for. But the whole scenario was well done. Given the variable French strength, this scenario could be played again without modification. My hat is off to [Bill] for a fine scenario, and a fine game.

Many thanks Brent for a great report and taking the time to write it.

Select Bibliography

Anderson, Fred, Crucible of War

Duffy, Christopher, By Force Of Arms

Duffy, Christopher, Instrument of War

Duffy, Christopher, Prussia's Glory, Rossbach and Leuthen 1757

Duffy, Christopher, The Army Of Frederick The Great, 2nd. Edition

Duffy, Christopher, The Military Life of Frederick The Gerat

Grant, Charles, The War Game

Jomini, Baron Antoine Henri, The Art of War

Kennett, Lee, The French Armies in the Seven Years' War

Luvaas, Jay, Frederick the Great on the Art of War

Nolan, Louis, Cavalry Its History and Tactics

Rogers, Colonel H.C.B., The British Army of the Eighteenth Century

Savory, Reginald, His Britannic Majesty's Army In Germany During The Seven Years War

Warnery, Emanual von, Remarks On Cavalry

Young, Brigadier Peter & Lawford, Lt. Col. James, CHARGE! or How To Play War Games